Bore hole plug

ABSTRACT

A bore hole plug comprising an elongated piston like member tapering inwardly towards one end, means located adjacent the other end of the piston like member to form sealing contact with the inside surface of a tubular member such as a drill stem through which the plug is adapted to pass, a series of wedging members located around the tapered end of said piston like member, retaining means holding the ends of said wedging members adjacent the tapered end of the plug, close thereto and spring means adapted to urge the end of said wedging members remote from the tapered end of the piston like member outwardly away from the said piston like member.

United States Patent 11 1 Van Ruth 1 Sept. 4, 1973 BORE HOLE PLUG2,330,659 9/1943 Anderson 166/132 2,808,890 10/1957 Clark et 166/192[76] Invent: Frank Ruth 235 2,963,092 12/1960 Anderson et al. 166/135 xKalgoorlie, Australia [22] Filed: Aug. 8, 1972 Primary Examiner-David H.Brown L' t L' t 1 pp No: 278,712 Attorney in on & in on [57] ABSTRACT[52] US. Cl 166/132, 166/135, 166/136, A bore hole p g comprising anelongated piston like 166/202 7 member ta erin inwardl towards one end,means 10- 51 I 1 c1 E2": 33 126 p g y 1 Ill .1 cated adjacent the otherend of the pi i member Field of Search 153, 135, to form sealing Contactwith the i i Surface f a 202 bular member such as a drill stem throughwhich the plug is adapted to pass, a series of wedging members [56]References cued located around the tapered end of said piston like U TSTATES PATENTS member, retaining means holding the ends of said1,457,148 5/1923 Crabbe 166/135 Wedging members adjacent the tapered endof the plug, 1,507,983 9/1924 Anderson... 166/ 192 close thereto andspring means adapted to urge the end 1,512,621 0/192 Ma lt 166/192 X ofsaid wedging members remote from the tapered end a f il-t- 1 of thepiston like member outwardly away from the said rig er 1,842,033 1/1932-Lewis 166/135 p'ston member 1,904,275 4/1933 Davis 166/135 X 2 Claims, 2Drawing Figures BORE HOLE PLUG This invention relates to an improvedbore hole plug. The object of the invention is to provide a bore holeplug which is relatively simple in construction and which can be passedthrough'a drill stem and located in the desired position in the borehole.

In one form the invention resides in a bore hole plug comprising anelongated piston like member tapering inwardly towards one end, meanslocated adjacent the other end of the piston like member to form sealingcontact with the inside surface of a tubular member such as a drill stemthrough which the plug is adapted to pass, a series of wedging memberslocatedaround the tapered end of the said piston like member, retainingmeans holding the ends of said wedging members adjacent the tapered endof the plug close thereto, and spring means adapted to urge the end ofthe said wedging members remote from the tapered end of the piston likemember outwardly away from said piston like member.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of one specific embodiment thereof shown in the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the plug in the position in which itpasses through a drill stem or like tubular locating member; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation with the wedging members held apart bysprings.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings the elongated piston like member11 is formed from steel but it may be formed from any othersuitablematerial and is of such a diameter that it will pass easilythrough a drill stem. The upper end of the member 11 is provided with aring 12 formed or rubber or other suitable material, the outer peripheryof which is provided with a flange adapted to bear against and seal onthe inside surface of the drill-stem. A series of wedging members 13formed from wood, metal or any other suitable material are positionedaround the lower end of the member l l. The outer faces of the lower endof the wedging members 13 are slightly rebated so that they will fitinto a dish like retaining member 14 fitted to the lower end of themember 11. A spring 15 is located between each pair of the wedgingmembers so that the spring tends to force the wedging members apart.

In use the plug in the position shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into theupper end of a drill stem located within the hole to be plugged. Thedrill stem prevents the wedging members from moving apart. Hydraulicfluid under pressure is fed into the upper end of the drill stem andthis forces the plug downwardly through the drill stem. When the wedgingmembers are clear of the drill stem, they spring apart until they bearagainst and grip the wall of the bore hole. Further downward movement ofthe plug forces the tapered portion of the member l 1 between the lowerends of the wedging members to force them into closer engagement withthe wall of the hole. The build up of pressure in the hydraulic systemwill indicate to the operator on the surface that the plug has reachedthe desired position and has been firmly fixed in position. The drillstem can be withdrawn and the desired operations carried out in the borehole.

Whilst the invention has been described with particular reference to abore hole plug it may also be used in reverse as a rock or anchor boltin mining operations. It may also be used as a packer assembly in thecementing or pressure grouting of holes in oil and mineral drillingoperations.

I claim:

1. A bore hole plug comprising an elongated piston like member taperinginwardly towards one end, means located adjacent the other end of thepiston like member for form sealing contact with the inside surface of atubular member such as a drill stem through which the plug is adapted topass, a series of wedging members located around the tapered end of saidpiston like member, retaining means holding the ends of said wedgingmembers adjacent the tapered end of the plug,

close thereto, and spring means adapted to urge the end of said wedgingmembers remote from the tapered end of the piston like member outwardlyaway from the said piston like member.

2. A bore hole plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing meanscomprises a ring formed of rubber orother suitable material, the outerperiphery of which is provided with an outwardly projecting flange.

=0 l t 10* t

1. A bore hole plug comprising an elongated piston like member taperinginwardly towards one end, means located adjacent the other end of thepiston like member for form sealing contact with the inside surface of atubular member such as a drill stem through which the plug is adapted topass, a series of wedging members located around the tapered end of saidpiston like member, retaining means holding the ends of said wedgingmembers adjacent the tapered end of the plug, close thereto, and springmeans adapted to urge the end of said wedging members remote from thetapered end of the piston like member outwardly away from the saidpiston like member.
 2. A bore hole plug as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe sealing means comprises a ring formed of rubber orother suitablematerial, the outer periphery of which is provided with an outwardlyprojecting flange.